Potato cutter



sept. 16,e 1952 Filed NOV. 14, 1949 w. A. 'rHoMPsoN Po'rAT'o CUTTER Wal/ace A. Thompson mVENroR.

BY #MMW Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED ,STATES PATENT oEF *2,610,664

f, v Po'rA'ro CUTTER" Wallace 1A.Thompson;fPontiaaMiclx. Animation November 14, 1949,'seriarNoJgIzLUs y This' invention Vvrelates to new uand useful improvements and structural reiinements "in devices for cutting potatoes, Vandthe principal object of the invention-is to provide a devicel of the character herein described, lwhereby the cutting operation may be quickly, easily and convenientlyeffected. Y

'Some of the advantages "itheinvention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its convenient operation, in its adaptability to eflicient and expeditious cleaning, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important object-s and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which: y

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of the invention at the commencement of the cutting operation;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 1, but illustrating the invention near the conclusion of the cutting operation;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the cutting member used in the invention; i

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective detail showing the structural arrangement kof the cutting member;

Figure 6 is a ing the relationship of ofthe invention;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line I--1 in Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the leaf springs used in the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification yand throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a potato cutter designated generally by the reference character I6, the same embodying in its construction a vertically elongated tubular ibarrel I2 having open upper and lower ends, the vbarrel being provided at a point spaced downwardly from its upper ends with an inwardly projecting annular bead constituting a seat for a circular cutting member I6.

fragmentary sectional view showthe different components 2 claims. (o1. :14a-gica) i lting elements 24.

Thecuttingz membert Ils-consists fora support# ing annulus v` I8 which isi'seated onthelbead 114 and-is provided fat its upperp lower andfou-ter edges with-suitable .grooves I9,20,'-2I respectively (see -AFigure f5) fso'that a continuous f wire *22 may be wound f-around'v for weavedgon'lthelarinnlusy lin criss-cross formation las'- `"shown, lthe stretches fof this fwireconstituting 3a set oflejtfit-v The invention also contemplates the provision of a tubular potato receiving sleeve 26 having a closed upper vend 28 and an open lower end, the lower edge of the sleeve terminating in an outturned annular bead 36 as will be clearly apparent. k

A downwardly extending pin or prong 3,2 is provided at the center of the top end 28 of the sleeve 26 while a plurality of arcuate leaf springs 34 are positioned in the sleeve 26, this being effected by providing lower ends of the springs 34 with suitable eyes 36 in frictional engagement with the bead 30.

It is to be understood that the free ends of the springs 34 are slidable longitudinally on the inner surface of the sleeve 26, and when the invention is placed in use, the sleeve is simply removed from the barrel I2 and a potato 40 is inserted into the sleeve so that the upper end portion thereof is supportably engaged by the prong 32 while the springs 34 frictionally engage the sides of the potato to centralize the potato on the prong and in the sleeve 26, as Iwill be clearly apparent.

Thereupon, the sleeve 26 is simply slid downwardly over the barrel I2, during which action the potato will pass longitudinally through the cutting elements 24 as indicated at 12,` and will be separated thereby into elongated sections or strips suitable for French frying.

It is to be noted that after the sleeve 26 com,- mences its downward sliding movement on the barrel I2, the potato will be automatically centralized .in the sleeve by its engagement with the cutting elements 24, so that the centralizing action of the springs 34 is no longer required.

Indeed, the sleeve 26 is sufficiently large as compared to the diameter of the barrel I2 that the springs 34 may become attened and disposed between the barrel and the sleeve as shown in Figure 2, until such time as the sleeve is again drawn upwardly and separated from the barrel when the springs will again resume their arcuate positions in readiness for subsequent centralizing operation.

It is believed that the advantages and use oi' y the invention will be clearly apparent from the i'oregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a potato cutter, the combination of ay vertically elongated barrel having an open upper end, cutter means mounted in the upper end of said barrel, a vertically elongated sleeve having an open end and movable downwardly from an initial position above the barrel to an ultimate position wherein it is telescoped over the barrel, said sleeve being of such size relative to the barrel as to provide an annular space between the barrel and the sleeve when the latter is in its ultimate position, and a set of leaf springs attached at one end thereof to the lower edge of said sleeve and extending upwardly therein, said springs being inwardly convexed in said sleeve to supportably engage a potato therein when the sleeve is in its initial position and being receivable in a. ilat position in said space 4 between the sleeve and the barrel when the sleeve is drawn downwardly.

2. The device as deilned in claim 1 together with an annular bead provided at the lower edge of said sleeve, and outturned hooks provided at the lower ends of said leaf springs and engaging said bead.

WALLACE A. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the .le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

